Norrbotten gathers strength for a new smart specialization strategy
How can Norrbotten strengthen its innovative power, meet future needs for expertise and contribute to Europe's competitiveness? These are some of the questions that are at the center of the county's strategy for smart specialization.
The work is led by Per Erik Andersson and Carola Medelid from Region Norrbotten together with Lina Linde and Pär Johansson from LTU Business, who are process support for Region Norrbotten in updating the strategy. On May 22, it was time for a meeting in Luleå. Around thirty participants from business, academia, the public sector and the innovation system gathered for dialogue.
The purpose of the dialogue meetings is to jointly identify the strengths, needs and priorities that will guide Norrbotten's future work with smart specialization. The strategy for smart specialization is often abbreviated as S3. It will help direct resources and efforts towards areas where the county has special conditions to create innovation, growth and social benefit.
– The innovation strategy sets direction and priorities for what we see as important for Norrbotten going forward, and how we should prioritize our resources in a smart way, says Lina Linde.
Linde describes smart specialization as an important piece of the puzzle under Norrbotten's regional development strategy. While the regional development strategy encompasses the county's broad development, S3 focuses specifically on research, innovation and business.
– All regions in the EU should contribute to Europe's overall competitiveness. The question is which piece of the puzzle we in Norrbotten should put into that puzzle.
Competence and knowledge in focus
An important starting point for the dialogues is statistics and analysis of Norrbotten's current situation. One of the clearest future issues concerns the supply of skills.
“The most striking thing is the need for skills. We see an aging population and a great need for labor,” says Joe Lindehag, statistician at Region Norrbotten.
At the same time, he emphasizes that statistics do not capture everything. Some industries, such as the space industry, are not always clearly visible in broad data, even though they may be strategically important.
– There is a lot of knowledge that we will gain from our dialogue rounds, that is where we can put the puzzle together, says Joe Lindehag.
The Academy as a strategic resource
For Norrbotten, the connection between academia, research and innovation is central. Pär-Erik Martinsson, Vice-Chancellor at Luleå University of Technology, highlights that today's data shows a strong knowledge base in Norrbotten and in the larger NUTS 2 area of Upper Norrland. NUTS 2 is an EU division of regions used for statistics and regional development policy, where Upper Norrland includes the counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten.
– I have had several aha experiences today, it is a very good day I think. The role of the Academy in Norrbotten and in the NUTS 2 area is very strong. It was a bit new to me that we are as strong as we are, he says.
He believes that the strength can be used even more strategically. The county is home to both Luleå University of Technology and several research institutes in areas such as steel, data centers, space and Arctic environments.
– How many regions have one university and four institutes? Not many. It is a strength we can use more, says Pär-Erik Martinsson.
He also points to the area of total defense as an area that is expected to gain increased importance, especially linked to Norrbotten's position in the Arctic.
Communication, digitalization and green transition
The dialogues also highlight fundamental conditions for development. Victoria Furskog, project advisor at the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development, emphasizes the importance of communication, infrastructure and digitalization;
– Communication and the opportunities for continued digitalization of society are fundamental to all other development.
Victoria Furskog also highlights the green transition as remaining central for northern Sweden:
– Here in northern Sweden we have been a showcase. It remains important that we continue this development going forward.
Victoria Furskog. Photo: Linn Berglund Pantzare.
A strategy that is shaped together
During May and June, five open dialogue meetings will be held around the county. There, stakeholders are invited to contribute perspectives on Norrbotten's challenges, areas of strength and future needs. The work is not just about choosing priority areas. It is also about coming together, building capacity and creating long-term conditions for innovation and development.
As the EU's future cohesion policy and long-term budget are discussed, the regional level is becoming increasingly important. Norrbotten's strengths in areas such as green industrial transition, such as space, mining, digitalization, research and Arctic expertise are not only important for the county. They are also part of Sweden's and Europe's future competitiveness.